Cord-knotter for self-binding harvesters.



No. ssgaaz. Patentedlov; l3, I900.

. R. c. LIVESAY, H. r. CRANDALL & E. w. BURGESS.

CORD KNOTTER FOB SELF BINDING HARVESTEBS.

(Applicntion filed Sept. 29, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheds-Sheet l.

Witnesses I Inventors- Robert (.Lfves qx No. 661,882. Patented Nov. l3;I900.

B. G. LIVESAY, H. F. CRANDALL &. E. W. BURGESS.

608D KNOTTER FOR SELF BINDING HARVESTERS.

(Applicstion flled Spt. 29, 1899.)

2 Sheetg-Shaet 2.

(No Model.)

ilNITgED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. LTVESAY, HENRY F. ORANDALL, AND EDTVARD W. BURGESS, OFMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO THE MILWAUKEE HARVESTER COMPANY, OFSAME PLACE.

CORD-KNOTTER FOR SELF-BINDING HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,882, dated November13, 1900.

Application filed September 29, 1899. Serial No. 732,140. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: tion after they have been given theirrespec- Be it known that we, ROBERT C. LIVESAY, tive movements resultingfrom the gear-seg- HENRY F.CRANDALL,and EDWARD W. BUR- ments. It is alsoprovided with the cam- GESS, citizens of the United States, residing atgroove 7 for imparting the necessary move- Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and ment to the cord-stripper and knife arm 8. 55 StateofVvisconsimhaveinventedcertain new The knotter-pinion 9 is provided withthe and useful Improvements in Oord-Knotters usual delay-surface butinstead of this for Self-Binding Harvesters, of which the folsurfacebeing placed upon the lower or outer lowing is a specification. end ofthe pinion it is made upon the inner 10 Our improvements relate todevices for end for a purpose which will bedescribed 60 holding anduniting the cord in cord autolater. The knotter-shaft is journaled inthe matic binding-machincs,and have particular knotter-frame radially tothe knotter-shaft reference to the simplicity of the mechanisms 2, andthe lower journalbox is provided for this purpose, the ease with whichthey can with the usual cam for opening the loose jaw be manufacturedinlarge quantities without of the knotter, which is closed by a cam- 65special care, their freedom from rapid wearspring in a well-knownmanner. The shaft ing movements, and the absence of compli-. 11 of thecord-holding mechanism is prefercated parts requiring accurate andfrequent ably journaled in the knotter-frame on a line adjustment. Weattain these objects by the tangential to a circle described from theaxis use of the mechanisms shown in the accom of the knotter-shaft 2forthe purpose of giv- 7o panying drawings, in whiching room for freedomof action of the knot- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of ter andcord-holder pinions. On the upper our knotter mechanism. Fig. 3 is anelevaend of this shaft is secured the holder-pinion tion of the knottercam-wheel. Figs. 4c, 5, 12 in such a position as to mesh with its segand6 are cross-sections of Fig. 3 on the lines ment of gear 5 on thecam-wheel 3, and the A B, (l D, and E F, respectively. Fig. 7 is a shaftis given one-third of a rotation each plan and elevation of the pinionfor driving turn of the cam, the pinion being provided the cord-holderdisk. Fig. 8 is a plan and with three delay-surfaces, as shownin Fig.7'. elevation of the pinion that drives the knot- The lower end of theholder-shaft is made tri- 30 ter-hook. Fig. 9 represents thecord-holderangular for a short portion, which ends in a disk-drivingshaft. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan collar 13, adapted to hold the shaftagainst and cross-section of the cord-holder disk. upward movement whenin operative posi- Fig. 11 is a top plan of the cord-holder disk. tiou.The holder-disk 14 has a triangular Fig. 12 is a plan and elevation ofthe platecentral cavity 15, adapted to receive the tri- 5 spring thatforms a part of the cord-holder angular end of the shaft 11, the cavitybeing mechanism. Fig. 13 is a section through the somewhat larger thanthe portion of the shaft cord-holding mechanism in a plane which it isdesigned to receive for the purpose of alpasses through the axis of theshaft thereof. lowing a limited oscillating movement of the Similarnumerals refer to similar parts disk from a plane at right angles withthe 40 throughout the several figures. axial line of the shaft. Thecavity is of a The knotter-frame 1 has the usual long less depth thanthe length of that portion of horizontal bearing and is mounted on thethe shaft it is designed to receive, and its shaft 2 of the binder,usually called the horizontal bottom is adapted to vibrate upon knottershaft. A cam wheel 3 is also the slightly-curved end of the shaft. Ithas 5 mounted upon this shaft and keyed thereto, three cord-receivingnotches in its periph- 5 so as to receive motion therefrom. This oamcry,and they divide the disk into three segwheel is provided with a segmentof gearing mental portions. One side of each cord- 4 for actuating thecord-knotteraud 5 for acreceiving notch is undercut or rounded andtuating the cord-holder disk, together with a the upper portion of thesame side is turned 50 delay-surface 6 to hold these parts inposislightly upward. The opposite side of each notch Is rounded over anddownward and made slightly concave, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Thedisk is held in operative position upon the end of its drivingspindle bymeans of the plate-spring 16. The inner end of the plate-spring isformed with an opening 17, in which a boss 18 upon the under side of thedisk 14 is loosely fitted. The opposite end of the plate-spring isprovided with a hole for the reception of a bolt, by which it is securedto the foot portion 19 of the knotterframe 1. The forward side of theplate-spring 'has an upturned portion 20, adapted to guide the corddownward in position to be received by the tierhook. This upturnedportion trends gradually downward and inward toward the disk for a shortdistance and then directly downward to form a short shoulder portion 21to hold the cords against the cutting action of the knife. Extendinginward from the shoulder portion is an upturned part 22, having itsupper surface approximately on a level with the upper surface of thedisk. This portion is for the purpose of preventing the end of the cordbeing pulled from the disk at or near the time of the cutting action ofthe knife. The cord-holder disk upon the under side of each segmentalpart is provided with curved corrugations, forming angular ribs thatassist in preventing the slipping of the twine from between the disk andthe platespring. The flat holding-surface of the platespring iscontinued in a circumferential directiona short distance from the end ofpart 22 toinsure the safe gripping of the end of the cord, A strippingor clearing horn 23 extends rearward from the body of the spring, itsfunction being to clear the disk of the short pieces of surplus twine.Near this horn and toward the part 19, to which the plate-spring issecured, is a curved upturned portion 24,

l and the body-surface is cut away, forming between the clearing horn 23and the upturned portion 24 a guiding-notch 25 to assist the needle inproperly presenting the cord to the receiving-notch in the cord-holderdisk. The knotter-frame 1 is provided with inwardprojecting toeportions, to which is secured the breastplate in a well-known manner.The bundle-stripper is hooked directly into the upturned toe portions.of the knotterframe, and its upper looped part engages with a hookformed on the upper outward side of presses the twine, still heldforward by the needle, between its ribbed under surface and theplate-spring. As the movement of the cord-holder disk upon the needleside of its axis is toward the knotter-hook, it carries the cord forwardto meet the opening jaws of the knotter-hook as they are nearing the endof their rotation, the movements of these parts being so timed that thecord-holder disk begins its forward movement and gives up cord at thetime that the knotter hook has ceased to draw cord from that portionsurrounding thebundle; otherwise it would compel the cord either tobreak orbe drawn through the holding mechanism. The latter feature hasbeen objectionable, as it necessitated a close adjustment and carefulconstruction of these parts to render them serviceable- Our improvedcord-holder renders'justsufficient cord to the knotter to complete theknot without undue strain on the cord and ceases to render it just asthe knife is being moved forward to sever the cords that have been drawntaut by the knotter-hook, the knife in its action being assisted by theshoulder 21 of the platespring, which holds the cords against theopposing force of the knife.

An important feature of our improved cordholder is its perfect freedomof oscillation without friction to accommodate itself to the varyingsizes of cord. It'frequently happens that a large portion of thecord-strand is immediately followed by a much smaller strand and in suchjuxtaposition that while one is being held by one portion of the diskmechanism the other is brought in contact with another portion, and wereit not for this oscillating' feature thetwo strands would be held byunequal forces and the smaller one would be allowed to escape. 00rd-holder disks somewhatsimilar in form to our invention have beenconstructed in such manner as to allow of a limited oscillation for thepurpose described; but we believe that we are the first to place thedisk loosely upon the end of the spindle and hold it thereto in themanner described.

Another feature of our-invention is in connection with the constructionof the knotter the knotter-frame, as shown in hlgs. l and 2.

The operation of our invention is as follows: The needle passing throughthe slot in the breastplateand over the knife-arm and knotter-hook inthe usual manner deliversthe cord into the outer receiving-notch of thecordholder disk, assisted by the guiding-piece 24 and notch 25 of theplate-spring. At or near the time the needle has reached the limit ofits upward and outward movement. the segment-gearing 4 of theknotter-cam-has engaged with the knotter-pinion 9. When the knotter-hookhas been turned about onefourth of a revolution, the segment-gear 5cam-wheel and knotter-pinion.

it has been customary heretofore where a knotter camwheel was used togive motion to two sets of operating mechanisms by means of gearsegments and pinions having delay-shoes that engage with delay-surfacesupon the cam to have two separate delay-surfaces upon the cam-wheeloneoutside the circumference of each gear-segment. In our improved camwheelwe have placed the single delay-surface between the two gear-segments insuch manner as to act upon the delay surface and surfaces of theknotter-pinion and cord-holder pinion, respectively. By thisconstruction we are enabled to materially red uce the diameter of thecam-wheel and lessen its cost of production.

It Will be observed that by the construction of our knotter the workingparts are brought close to the bundle, insuring a compactlybound bundle,and when it is discharged it will move close to the disk and sweep awayany surplus ends of twine or loose straws that might interfere with theperfect operating of the tying mechanism.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- l. A cord-holder for grain-binders comprising the followingelements: a disk, having cord'receiving notches and a central cavity, adriving-spindle that is loosely seated in said cavity in a manner totransmit motion to, and permit a limited vibration of said disk from aplane at right angles with the axis of the spindle,and a plateyieldinglyheld against the disk.

2. A cord-holder disk having cord-receiving notches in its periphery,and a roughened or corrugated under surface, a central angular cavityadapted to receive the angular end of a driving-spindle, said diskadapted to vibrate relative to the axis of the spindle in combinationwith a plate-spring that is yieldingly held against the roughened sideof the disk.

3. A cord-holder disk provided with means for engaging the cord, and acentral cavity that extends partially through the disk, in

combination with a driving -spindle that is loosely seated in the cavityin a manner to transmit motion to thedisk.

4. A cord-holder disk having cord-receiving notches in its periphery anda central cavity adapted to receive the end of a drivingspindle, saiddisk adapted to vibrate relative to the axis of the spindle.

5. In a cord-holder for grain-binders,a cordholding disk, adisk-actuating spindle provided with an angular or squared end portion,provided with a convex end bearing, an abutting collar or shoulder, andmeans for driving said spindle.

6. In combination with a cord-holder disk having cord-receiving notchesin its periphery, a plate yieldingly held against the disk, said plateprovided with an upturned cordguiding portion adapted to guide the cordinto a receiving-notch, an upturned portion on the delivery side of thedisk adapted to guide the cord downward and inward to meet the jaws ofthe knotting-hook and hold it against the cutting action of the knife,and having a portion of the upturned part extending'across thedelivery-notch when the succeeding notch is in a receiving position.

ROBERT C. LIVESAY. HENRY F. ORANDALL. EDWARD W. BURGESS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD F. OTTO, WM. F. DUMMER.

